Gerry Taggart
Tough as teak Irish battler
| Full name: | Gerald Taggart |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: | October 18, 1970 |
| Clubs played for: | Manchester City, Barnsley, Bolton, Leicester, Stoke |
Club Career
Gerry Taggart started his career as a trainee with Manchester City, but made just 13 league appearances for the club before joining Barnsley in 1990, where his career really took off. His no-nonsense displays at the heart of defence made him a firm favourite with the fans in his five years at Oakwell.
Taggart moved to Bolton in 1995, and in his three years at the club, he made 81 appearances and scored 5 goals, one of which was in the last ever game at the old Burnden Park against Charlton. He then enjoyed Premier League success with Leicester before moving on again, this time to Stoke, where he formed a decent partnership with Michael Duberry prior to his retirement from league football in 2006.
Club Stats
| Years | Clubs | App | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-90 | Manchester City | 13 | 1 |
| 1990-95 | Barnsley | 247 | 20 |
| 1995-98 | Bolton | 81 | 5 |
| 1998-2004 | Leicester | 142 | 13 |
| 2003-04 | Stoke (loan) | 8 | 2 |
| 2004-06 | Stoke | 48 | 3 |
International Career
Belfast-born Taggart made his debut for Northern Ireland in 1990 and won a total of 51 caps, scoring seven goals, over the course of the next 13 years. He announced his international retirement in 2003 after being informed by manager Sammy McIlroy that he was planning to rebuild the team around younger players.
International Career Stats
| Years | Clubs | App | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-2003 | Northern Ireland | 51 | 7 |
Key Games
Middlesbrough 0-1 Barnsley (Second Division, May 2, 1990)
The defender had injured his wrist, but in true Taggart style, he simply bandaged it up and carried on to give a superb performance in a priceless 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough, a Mark Smith goal preserving the club's Second Division status.
Bolton 4-1 Charlton (First Division, April 25, 1997)
Bolton gave their fans something to shout about as they marked the last game at Burnden Park in style. The First Division title had been secured and there was a real party atmosphere as Wanderers brushed aside Charlton with a rare goal from Taggart, plus two from John McGinlay and one from Alan Thompson.
Leicester 2-1 Tranmere (League Cup final, February 27, 2000)
Taggart was part of the Leicester side beaten in the 1999 League Cup Final by Spurs but, 12 months later, they finally got their hands on the trophy. Taggart's defensive partner Matt Elliott scored twice, the decisive goal coming just nine minutes from the end, after David Kelly had equalised the Scot's first-half effort.
Honours
| Club | Competition | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Bolton | First Division Championship | 1997 |
| Leicester | League Cup | 2000 |
Did You Know...?
At £1.5million, Taggart's arrival at Bolton from Barnsley made him the Trotters' first seven-figure signing.
Taggart played 35 times for Northern Ireland during his days at Barnsley, making him the club's most-capped player.
Taggart had a 'goal' against Everton disallowed in 1997 that would have given Bolton their first win at the Reebok Stadium. His header was six inches over the line before it was cleared by Terry Phelan, but ref Stephen Lodge failed to spot it. The game ended 0-0, and the two sides finished level on points at the end of the season. Bolton were relegated on goal difference, Everton stayed up.
We want your help to grow the MirrorFootball.co.uk archive! Leave your comments about this piece of football history by clicking on the 'Your Memories' tab above. Tell us who or what you'd like to see covered in the MirrorFootball.co.uk archive by emailing archive@mirror.co.uk
(PDF2.5MB)
